It is a scenario that few could have imagined possible at the start of the season, as OGC Nice head to the Parc des Princes on Sunday evening sitting four points clear of defending champions Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG fell to the biggest league defeat of the Qatari era, 3-0 in Montpellier, slipping to third place after red-hot leaders OGC Nice beat Toulouse 3-0 and Monaco walloped SC Bastia 5-0 to further increase their huge goal difference.

Nice boss Lucien Favre found that his side dealt well with the challenge posed by Toulouse as they ran out 3-0 winners and went three points clear atop the table; the TFC's Pascal Dupraz felt Les Aiglons have stepped up a grade.

Ligue 1 News Archives

Week 8 Reactions: Clasico chat and more

OM coach Elie Baup says his players gave it their all in the 2-2 Clasico draw with Paris Saint-Germain. Baup's PSG counterpart felt his side didn't play badly and added that Zlatan Ibrahimovic was excellent from set-pieces.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Olympique de Marseille 2 - 2 Paris Saint-Germain

Elie Baup (Marseille coach): "We tried to stick to what we know how to do and that is to play with a lot of determination and commitment. I haven't got much to criticise my players for. In fact they gave it their all. The first half was of a high level with technique, tactics and commitment. We got thrashed at Valenciennes and manage to lift our heads up after that. We could have finished off some moves better. They're the strongest opponents we've faced all season and we stood up to them. We're starting to get players back from injury and suspension. Gignac responded to the PSG Goals and what he's done this season is in the image of what the team has done. He's scored goals but then there's also the work he puts in in getting back in position and in doing the pressing."

Carlo Ancelotti (Paris Saint-Germain coach): "We didn't play badly and I think a draw was a fair result. OM started the game very well but we reacted well to that. The key was Marseille's equaliser as if we'd managed to control the game after Zlatan's second goal then things wouldn't have been the same. Zlatan was excellent from set-pieces but there were also chances for Pastore and Gameiro. Ibra is used well in our side. He's scoring and that's good for us. People say he's tired? Maybe. I think that at even 80% he is good enough to play. OM are a solid side and they have experience but I think that Lyon will also be challenging for the title. Lille also have a very good side. We're still second in the league."

FC Lorient 1 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais

Christian Gourcuff (Lorient coach): "I thought that we were well balanced. We had the knowhow to come back from a goal down and we showed some quality even if we were a little passive in the first half. Lyon had some good moments going forward. The second half was very satisfying. We had chances. We lacked a bit of efficiency, that was our only failing. In terms of creating things, this was our best match of the season. This is the kind of football I love and it is rare to see it in Ligue 1. The run of draws isn't really on my mind, even if I would have preferred to win. It's not a huge deal to still be unbeaten, what really counts is how we are on the pitch, that is what will allow us to make progress and go further."

Rémi Garde (Lyon coach): "We didn't give up and we were playing against a very good Lorient team. It was a beautiful game and showed that you need two teams to play. In the second half we became isolated and we didn't close down the gaps like we had in the first half. We hit the woodwork twice in the first half but then again they hit the post once themselves."

Stade Brestois 29 1 - 1 Girondins de Bordeaux

Landry Chauvin (Brest coach):"We would have taken this result before the match. We knew that Bordeaux hadn't been behind all season. It was almost ideal to open the scoring because that meant Bordeaux had to react. We could have gone behind early on. But I am happy because I feel the team is making progress. It is a good point to have won especially with regards to what has gone before this season."

Francis Gillot (Bordeaux coach): "We put a lot of effort in and didn't get much in return. We were in control in the first half but then gifted them a goal with some poor positional play. I expected better. Today it was a pretty average display. At 1-0 down it wasn't looking good so I was obliged to shake things up a bit and make some changes to the attack. We took a lot of risks but we got the chance to equalise. We had the chance to open the scoring, that is the only way to get this team to play, we had the means to win this game."

Friday, October 6, 2012

AS Saint-Etienne 4 - 0 AS Nancy Lorraine

Christophe Galtier (Saint-Etienne coach): "We won the game in 25 minutes, but before that Nancy could have put us in trouble as they missed a good chance. In comparison to recent outings, where we lacked that final touch, we were highly efficient in the opening half-an-hour. After that, the match wasn't the same, even if we had to keep our concentration and a clean sheet. That's always good for your goal difference. We had to get rid of the frustration built up by recent games. We worked well up front, with everyone working for each other. At half-time, I asked them to be careful about picking up bookings, to try and continue playing, but also for them to save themselves given certain players were tired."

Jean Fernandez (Nancy coach): "It was difficult. When you concede three goals like that at the start of a match, it's tricky. We hit the post early on, and then Saint-Etienne scored. We were completely overwhelmed by them in the first half. There's not a lot more to say. The first half was a nightmare, and we have to just forget about this game. This series of defeats with a lot of goals conceded and few scored, it's starting to get a lot to deal with mentally. It's difficult for the players, who are the ones the most affected by this. We have to keep working, and prepare for the next game at home, which will be very important. We have to retain hope, even if there's not much positive to come from this evening. Things can turn around quickly, and we have to stay confident to get ourselves out of trouble."

Saturday, 7 October 2012

Montpellier Hérault SC 2 - 3 Evian Thonon-Gaillard FC

René Girard (Montpellier coach): "We can only be disappointed and annoyed. When you don't do what you have to do, and things don't go for you, this is what happens. All the same, it's a bit much to concede three at home. When you're not thorough, when you don't take things seriously, you pay a high price in sport. The boys put in the effort, but didn't go about it in the right way. We led, but were then pegged back and overtaken. We simply lacked thoroughness. If certain players think they're world champions, they're kidding themselves."

Pascal Dupraz (Evian TG coach): "We were a touch lucky, though apparently you need some of that. We deserved to go in front, but didn't know what to do with the lead when we got it. We quickly conceded two goals as we were sleeping, something which we've done since the start of the season, notably from set-pieces. We sat back too much in the second half, but scored two goals which had nothing to do with luck. Let us enjoy this win, even if we perhaps didn't deserve it. It's not every team which will score three against the champions in their own backyard. We know that the road to safety is still long. What could be more normal for a young Ligue 1 club?"

SC Bastia 3 - 2 ESTAC Troyes

Frédéric Hantz (Bastia coach): "I'm happy with our performance overall, but we're still learning and have to be able to handle certain situations better. Mentally, it was a tricky game for both teams, but our points tally is rather good after eight games. The fact that we've had back-to-back promotions has allowed us to come into the season with momentum."

Jean-Marc Furlan (Troyes coach): "I'm a little down, but in spite of the defeat, I'm happy with my players' display. We've had a lot of injuries, and there were a lot of young players in the side. Some barely knew the first name of their team-mates, especially in defence, but we were able to present a united front. We showed solidarity with one another, and despite the sendings-off, kept our cool. For that reason I'm very disappointed for them."

LOSC Lille 2 - 0 AC Ajaccio

Rudi Garcia (Lille coach): "We wanted to have that winning feeling again, and we've got it. I have to congratulate the squad, who worked well. It was a game we rather dominated, though there were too many errors in the first half. It's good that two of our forwards scored, and the three points do us a world of good, of course. Everyone was motivated, everyone showed desire. There are still things we have to improve, but finally we've shown a clinical streak. I hope it's the start of a run. I talked to a lot of the players, and I found them to be determined to turn things round. I wasn't wrong. You saw that everyone was flat-out. On that we can build."

Alex Dupont (Ajaccio coach): "We were rather good in the first half, and I thought we might go in at half-time at 0-0. We could have avoided conceding the first goal, and going in a goal behind was tough on us, we deserved better. We were generous in defence for the second goal. Overall, we played well, though we lacked penetration in the second half. We switched off up front, and were less dangerous. Lille had been lacking a little bit of luck, it returned."

Stade de Reims 3 - 1 OGC Nice

Hubert Fournier (Reims coach): "There are games where substitutes shine, and tonight was one of those games. Of course there's Courtet, but Ramaré and Ghilas also made decisive contributions after coming on. That's very pleasing. It shows that everyone feels involved. Courtet isn't a surprise though. He knows where he wants to go, and if he keeps his head about him, it'll work. He'll perhaps have downs as well as ups this season, but for the moment we're capitalising on his great form. He's red hot! What I'm interested in is the gap we have between ourselves and our rivals for the drop. Of course we're already thinking about the next game against PSG, and we're not going to the Parc des Princes just to take photos."

Claude Puel (Nice coach): "It's a blow for us. Up till now, we've played well, but we lacked something in the first half to be able to hope to get something from the game. We play matches to win them, and weren't thinking about our unbeaten run. However, the way we came into the game and the way we played in the first half meant we had no chance of winning, though the team came back into it after the break."

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 0 - 1 Stade Rennais FC

Eric Hély (Sochaux coach): "The defeat stemmed from the start of the match. I really liked the way we played in the second half, where our play was far more fluid. Without taking anything away from Rennes, they scored from a half-chance. It's useless to complain though. We have to look to the future. We've been in a tight spot since the start, but there's not too much wrong. The biggest negative this evening is the loss of Thierry Doubaï. We'll have to try and find a solution to replace him using lads like Vincent Nogueira."

Frédéric Antonetti (Rennes coach): "The result itself is very positive. I also liked the way we won it, especially in the spirit we showed. But we're still held back by a lack of confidence. At the moment, the team is rolling its sleeves up so that it doesn't get surprised, like it did against Bordeaux and Marseille. It was a key match to get us back in touch with the top half of the table, but there will be others, starting with Montpellier in a fortnight."

Toulouse FC 2 - 2 Valenciennes FC

Alain Casanova (Toulouse coach): "Even though we got back into it, we have some regrests. It was tough on my players that we fell behind as they only had those two chances. We once again showed a lot of character. I like this team a lot in the way it shows its mental strength, they hate losing. It's a shame, though, to always have to react, we now need to be more proactive. Our points total is satisfactory, but it's mostly the character the team has shown that sticks in my mind most. We try to play, and I don't want to hold my players back. We're still going to improve."

Daniel Sanchez (Valenciennes coach): "I was happy with our first half, but we were much too much under pressure after that. We lacked consistency in the second half, and gave away possession too much. Toulouse took risks, and they're a tough team to play against. It's a good point, but when you're 2-0 up, it's a shame not to win. It would have been nice to pick up three points here and find ourselves – temporarily at least – in the top three."